In a harrowing incident in Ohio, a man is facing charges for the brutal murder of his mother-in-law, allegedly committed amidst the turmoil of his ongoing divorce. The accused, Jonathan Schmidt, aged 35, is charged with the aggravated murder of 68-year-old Marcia Van Druten, according to records from Lucas County Jail. Schmidt was taken into custody last Friday and is currently held at the Lucas County Corrections Center.

The tragic events unfolded on a Wednesday evening around 9 p.m. in the quiet community of Sylvania, a suburb within the Toledo metropolitan area that houses about 20,000 residents. Marcia Van Druten and her husband were at their residence on Fox Hollow Court when Schmidt reportedly approached, allegedly harboring violent intentions.

Details emerged when Emily Hayman, a friend of Schmidt’s estranged wife, shared insights with Toledo’s ABC affiliate, WTVG. “One of Jon’s friends contacted Kinsey, saying they had received a message from Jon threatening to harm her mother,” Hayman recounted. Fearing the worst, Kinsey, Schmidt’s wife, attempted to reach her mother multiple times. When her calls went unanswered, a sense of dread set in, prompting her to alert her father. Upon trying to call, he discovered the phone nearby and rushed downstairs, only to find the devastating scene.

Reports indicate that Schmidt forced entry into the Van Druten residence by smashing the sliding glass doors with a crowbar. As Marcia Van Druten’s husband slept upstairs, Schmidt allegedly committed the heinous act, beating her to death.

Hayman further elaborated on the sequence of events, explaining how her involvement began when Kinsey, in a state of panic, reached out to her. This grim chapter underscores the tragic consequences of domestic disputes that spiral out of control, leaving families shattered in their wake.

Hayman’s part in the story began when she said her friend — Schmidt’s wife — called her panicked.

“She said he killed my mom. He killed my mom. And at that point I was already on the way to her house,” she said.

Authorities responded to the home, and Van Druten was pronounced dead. The Lucas County Coroner’s Office performed an autopsy on her body, listing her cause of death as multiple blunt force trauma as a result of homicide.

The suspect had fled the area, but he was reportedly arrested the following morning in La Salle, Michigan, about 25 miles northeast.

Schmidt and his wife have a 1-year-old son who was born prematurely when the couple were on their honeymoon about 15 months ago, WTVG reported. At some point, Schmidt filed for divorce from his wife and the proceedings became contentious.

A custody dispute between the parents ensued, and subpoenas were issued to their family members, such as Van Druten, according to area CBS affiliate WTOL. The couple were also reportedly feuding over child and spousal support payments that Schmidt was making.

A GoFundMe set up by Hayman for her friend reads: “Her mother, who she deeply loved, was killed in a way no one can prepare for, leaving behind grief that is sudden, overwhelming, and impossible to put into words.” The fundraiser adds that her friend now has to raise her child “without the support she should have had, while carrying a weight no one should have to bear.”